Oakland University Senate

October 2, 1969

Agenda

To: Members of the University Senate

From: William F. Sturner, for the Steering Committee

RE: Agenda for the Meeting of October 2, 1969

The next meeting of the University Senate will be held on Thursday, October 2, at 3:30 p.m., in Rooms 128-30, Oakland Center

A. New Business

Recommendations from the Steering Committee. (Mr. Sturner)

The Steering Committee urges the adoption of the following changes in the titles, charges, and the membership specifications of particular standing committees of the Senate;

a. The Senate approves the following amendments in the titles, the charges, and the membership specifications of the following standing committees of the University Senate:

(1) Change the student representation on the Academic Policy Committee from "one student" to "two students, one of whom must be a student senator." Add to the membership of the Academic Policy Committee "the Registrar, who shall be ex officio and non-voting."

(2) Delete the phrase "to inform the faculty of procedures to be followed in cases of academic dishonesty," from the charge of the Academic Standing and Honors Committee. Add "one student" to the membership of that committee.

(3) Change the membership of the Admissions and Financial Aids Committee from "five members including at least one from each organized faculty; and the Director of Admissions and the Director of Financial Aids, both of whom are ex officio and non-voting," to ''six members including at least one from each organized faculty; one student; and the Director of Admissions, the Director of Financial Aids, and the Director of Special Projects in the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, each of whom shall be ex officio and non-voting."

(4) Change the membership of the Athletics Committee from "Five faculty members; two students; and the Director of Athletics, who is ex officio and non-voting," to "Four faculty members; two students; one member of the administrative- professional staff; and the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Director of Athletics, who shall be ex officio and non-voting."

(5) Change the title of the "Faculty Affairs Committee" to "Professional Affairs Committee." Change the membership of that committee from "Four faculty members and one administrative-professionals staff member" to "Four faculty members and two administrative-professional staff members."

(6) Change the at-large representation on the Library Committee from "three members" to "two members."

(7) Change the title of the "Long-Range Planning Committee" to "Long-Range Development Committee." Change the charge to that committee from, "To study and shape the long-range future growth of the University," to "To study and make recommendations regarding the long-range future growth of the University." Change the membership of that committee from "The Provost as chairman, the dean of each organized faculty, and five members (including one student).," to "The Provost, as chairman; one faculty member from each organized faculty; one student; one member from the administrative-professional staff; and one member-at-large."

(8) Delete the "Graduate Study Committee" from the list of the standing committees of the University Senate since the function and jurisdiction of the committee has been granted to the Graduate Council in Amendment I to the Constitution.

b. The Senate approves the creation of four new standing committees of the University Senate. The titles, the charges and the membership specifications of the committees are as follows:

(1) The Summer School Committee

Charge: To advise the Dean of the Summer School on all matters relating to the Summer School program; to formulate the specific policies that may be required to assure the effectiveness of the Summer School providing they are not in conflict with established Senate policies; and to accept "Petitions of Exception" and, with the guidance of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, serve as a special Student Conduct Committee (the Committee, however, should not duplicate the functions of the Academic Standing and Honors Committee and the Academic Conduct Committee, both of which will be active throughout the Summer School period.)

Membership: Six members of the summer session faculty; a representative of the Steering Committee; the Dean of the Summer School and a representative of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, who shall be ex officio and non-voting. Members shall be appointed each winter and serve one-year appointments from January to December.

Note: This committee would be a permanent successor to the ad hoc Summer School Committee set up last spring. The charge and the membership specifications remain the same. The Steering Committee last spring recommended that the ad hoc committee become a standing committee of the Senate in the fall of 1969.

(2) External Affairs Committee

Charge: To investigate, study and make recommendations regarding the interests and/or concerns of the university community on those issues and actions external to the university which are not directly related to the operation of the academic structure of the university; and to receive, by referral from the Senate, motions by senators related to public positions or actions on external issues. In all cases the committee should consider first whether an issue is appropriate for consideration by the Senate and, if so, to thereupon conduct the necessary investigations in order to give the Senate an accurate and complete assessment of the issue or action and, where appropriate, to bring before the Senate such recommendations as are suggested by its findings.

Membership: Four faculty members (of whom at least one must be non-tenured); one representative of the Office of the Provost; two students; and one member of the administrative- professional staff.

Note: The report of the ad hoc Committee on the Responsibilities and the Concerns of the Senate, which recommended creation of this new standing committee, is attached.

(3) The Teaching and Learning Committee

Charge: To promote the teaching function and the learning process by sponsoring incentives for good teaching; to provide for a more structured outlet for reflection on both the teaching and learning processes and the aspirations and accomplishments of the teaching profession.

Membership: Two non-tenured members of the faculty; two tenured members of the faculty (one of whom should be a member of the University Tenure and Appointment Policy Committee); two students; one member representing the Office of the Provost; and one member-at-large.

Note: The report of the Teaching and Learning Seminar, which recommended creation of this new standing committee, is attached.

(4) The Academic Conduct Committee

Charge: To review, propose, and implement policies concerning academic dishonesty.

Membership: Three faculty members; three students; and the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, who shall be ex officio and non-voting.

Note: This committee would assume the academic disciplinary functions relinquished by the Academic Standing and Honors Committee.

The Steering Committee offers a slate of nominees for the standing committees of the University Senate.

c. The Senate appoints the nominees noted on the list to be distributed at this meeting to membership on the standing committees of the University Senate.

2. Report of Steering Committee Activities. (Mr. Sturner)

a. Changes in the status of the Department of Economics, implicit in the Steering Committee and Senate approval of the new School of Economics and Management last spring, are in the process of implementation. The Steering Committee reviewed and accepted a report submitted by Frederick Obear, Acting Provost, which outlined the pending structural changes. The changes include a deactivation of the current department of Business Administration and Economics in the College of Arts and Sciences and an activation of a Department of Economics in the School of Economics and Management. This recommendation has the support of both the College and the School as well as the unanimous endorsement of the faculty in this academic area. Those faculty members presently holding appointment in the School of Economics and Management would have their area of primary affiliation changed to the School, but would also continue to be members of the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences. In addition, an Economics major would continue to be offered in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Bachelor of Arts degree will be awarded to such students.

b. The decision made by the Steering Committee in May, 1969 to accept the decisions and recommendations of the Student Publications Committee was reviewed and approved by the present Steering Committee. Mr. Lyons, chairman of the Student Publications Committee, submitted a memorandum to the Steering Committee last spring noting that the Student Publications Committee would hold hearings and a referendum this fall on the publications fee presently assessed all university students. The Steering Committee agreed that such activities were within the jurisdiction of the Student Publications Committee. That Committee was advised, however, to file the appropriate recommendations regarding the publications fee with the University Senate via the Steering Committee once the planned referendum was completed in the fall. The Student Publications Committee was urged to complete the work of the referendum early in the fall term to avoid any possible conflicts in jurisdiction with the new committees that would be appointed by the Senate.

The present Steering Committee was recently informed that the Student Publications Committee will hold open hearings on September 29 and 30 to summarize the issues raised in the referendum scheduled for October 8. Given the consent of the previous Steering Committee and the present calendar worked out by the Student Publications Committee, it seemed appropriate that the present Steering Committee defer the appointment of a new Student Publications Committee until the old one had completed the work of the hearings and the referendum on the student publications fee.

c. The Steering Committee appointed an ad hoc Student Nomination Committee. The members include Mr. John Springfield (chairman); the three other student senators; the students elected in the spring of 1969 to serve on the Commission on Student Life; the chairman of the Student Activities Board; the chairman of the Commuter Council; and the chairman of the Inter-Hall Council. Mr. Springfield was asked to assemble this group to canvass student interest in the various Senate Committee assignments, and to produce a slate of nominees for the student positions on the present and proposed standing committees of the University Senate.

d. An ad hoc Administrative-Professional Nomination Committee was also appointed by the Steering Committee. The members, Mr. James Appleton (chairman) and Mr. Stoutenburg, were asked to canvass the interest of the members of the administrative- professional staff in the A-P positions on the present and Proposed standing committees of the University Senate.

e. Professor James Davis, Assistant Provost, was appointed Executive Secretary of the Steering Committee. In this capacity, Mr. Davis will perform certain administrative and executive duties associated with the activities and concerns of the Steering Committee.

f. The Steering Committee has been informed that Mr. Gary Good will replace Mr. Stanley Childress as the Chancellor's appointee to the University Senate. Mr. Childress was unable to serve because of other commitments.

g. Two ad hoc committees were created by the Steering Committee, pursuant to the authority granted in article V, section x, part 4 of the Constitution of Oakland University.

(1) Ad hoc Committee on Women's Rights

Charge: To study the status of women on campus, with particular concern to employment, compensation, and related issues.

Membership: Andreas (chairman). Sacks, Tripp, Mattis, Murphy, and Alexander.

(2) Ad hoc Committee on Constitutional Review

Charge: To study the existing University Constitution and thereafter bring to the Senate such recommendations as are suggested by its findings.

Membership: Rue (chairman), Mazzara, Stern, Letvin, Loafman, Covert, and Tafralian.

h. Wilbur W. Kent, Associate Dean of the School of Performing Arts, submitted a memorandum to the Steering Committee outlining the reasons for the cancellation of the Meadow Brook Summer School of Music.

i. The members of the Steering Committee were invited to attend the Provost's breakfast meeting on Thursday, September 25 to discuss the "Faculty Call for a Viet Nam Moratorium" with the Chancellor, the Acting Provost and the deans.

j. A letter urging Chancellor Varner to remain at Oakland University was drafted by Mr. Gerulaitis and submitted to the Chancellor by the Steering Committee. The letter expressed the strong support of the Steering Committee for the Chancellor.

k. The Steering Committee agreed to urge a review of present university policy regarding commencement exercises. It was the sentiment of the Steering Committee that the university hold only one formal commencement each year in April, but that it grant degrees in August, January, and April. The Steering Committee will forward its recommendation to the Academic Policy Committee of the Senate and urge that it solicit the reaction of the various assemblies and the students as soon as possible.

l. In response to the request of the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the Steering Committee submitted the following recommendations for membership on university committees:

(1) University Parking Committee
Moeller and Heberle

(2) Student Conduct Committee
Torch, Wild, and Fullmer

(3) Campus Security Committee
Clatworthy, Unakar and Brill

m. The Commission on Student Life has voted to accept the invitation of the Steering Committee to maintain an affiliation with the University Senate. The student members of the Commission have expressed their wish that the Commission remain an ad hoc committee of the University Senate for an additional year. The Steering Committee has accepted that recommendation, but strongly urged the Commission to become a standing committee of the University Senate, to be effective in the fall of 1970.

Messrs. Ozinga, Tower, and Barthel, who were appointed by the Steering Committee last year to serve on the Commission, have expressed their desire to continue their work on the Commission. Three other faculty and staff members of the Commission- Messrs. James Appleton, Coffman and Hammerle--have asked to be relieved of their duties on the Commission. The Steering Committee thus has asked Messrs. Pierson, Briod, and Burke to join the Commission for the Academic year 1969-70 and all have agreed to accept this responsibility.

n. The Steering Committee agreed to invite a representative of the School of Economics and Management to sit as a guest of the Steering Committee at its regular meetings. Mr. Seeber was kind enough to relinquish his right to increased representation on the Senate and implicitly on the Steering Committee. It would be unfortunate, however, if in so doing the Senate unintentionally made it difficult for the faculty of the School of Economics and Management to be fully apprised of the activities of the Steering Committee and the Standing Committees of the University Senate. Motivated by all that is right and fair, the Steering Committee has issued an invitation to Mr. Seeber for the faculty of the School of Economics and Management to nominate one representative from that School to sit as an ex officio, non-voting guest of the Steering Committee until such time as the constitutional issues alluded to above were clarified and/or resolved.

WFS:JED: Ijm
9/30/69
attachments
cc: Deans, chairmen and directors of academic and administrative departments
Office of the Dean of Students (Deans Dutton, J. Appleton, Birch, Houtz,
The Commission on Student Life
Oakland University student newspapers